THE  LIBRARY  OF  THE 
UNIVERSITY  OF 
NORTH  CAROLINA 


THE  COLLECTION  OF 
NORTH  CAROLINIANA 

ENDOWED  BY 

JOHN  SPRUNT  HILL 
CLASS  OF  1889 


Cp366.1 

B62b 


MASONIC  ADDRESS 
DELIVERED  IN  ZION, 
October  §,  Anno  liticl  5§51, 

AT  THE 

DEDICATION  OF  BLACKMER  LODGE 
•    No.  127. 


BY  LUKE  BLACKMER,  G.  S.  W. 


J.  J.  BRUNER,  PRINTER,  SALISBURY,  N.  C. 


ADDRESS 


Brothers  : 

WE  read  in  Spanish  story  that  on  each  return  of  icy  winter  the 
Eagle  quits  his  mountain  eyry  in  the  rugged  sierra  of  the  North  and 
takes  his  flight  to  Southern  chmes,  where,  on  the  shores  and  in  the  en- 
chanting vales  of  the  Guadalquiver,  he  may  sojourn  during  the  season 
in  which  storms  and  tempests  spread  desolation  around  his  Northern 
home  ;  there  he  may  revel  beneath  the  influence  of  a  mild,  tropical  sky, 
wdiere  sparkling  fountains  play  mid  genial  sunshine,  where  countless 
flowers  of  every  varied  form  of  beauty  bloom  ;  where  birds  of  thrice  ten 
thousand  shades  of  gorgeous  plumage  perch  or  wander  on  the  wing  ; 
where  murmuring  streamlets  wind  their  surpentine  courses  through  vales 
carpeted  with  richest  verdure,  where  bleating  flocks  and  lowing  herds 
are  roaming  joyously  beneath  the  exhilarating  influence  of  the  happy 
scene,  where  the  glad  voice  of  the  vintage  peasant  rises  in  sweet  songs 
upon  the  morning  air  as  he  goes  forth  to  his  pleasant  labors,  and  where, 
at  the  jocund  hours  of  evening,  the  merry  sounds  of  castanets  are  heard 
from  the  midst  of  vines  that  surround  many  a  happy  cottage  home  as 
young  men  and  maidens,  with  hearts  as  light  and  joyous  as  the  scene  is 
beautiful,  join  in  the  rural  dance  "  beneath  soft  eve's  consenting  stai'." 

And  thus  it  is  with  you  my  Brothers.  On  each  return  of  a  festal 
morn  in  Masonry,  you  leave  the  rugged  sierra  of  the  world,  and  from 
long  and  distant  wanderii^s  you  come  together  around  the  altar  of  your 
love,  the  shrine  whereon  your  holy  vows  have  been  laid.  Here,  apart 
from  all  the  vexatious  cares,  the  corroding  strifes  and  withering  disap- 
pointments of  the  world,  you  renew  your  vows  of  love  and  devotion  to 
our  venerable  Order,  and  grasping  firmly  by  the  hand  long  separated  and 
wandering  brothers,  you  sit  down  with  them  around  the  altar  of  your 
vowing  to  spend  a  brief  but  blissful  period  in  the  happy  interchange  of 
thoughts  of  purity  and  high  devotion.  The  scene  is  well  calculated  to 
subdue  the  feverish  impulses  of  the  heart  and  to  banish  the  wild  excite- 


4 

ment  of  the  world.  Here,  love  for  each  other  warms  the  heart  and  pity 
for  the  wants  and  miseries  of  suffering  humanity  subdues  the  wilder  im- 
pulses of  your  joy,  and  you  look  forth  upon  the  wide  world,  from  this 
happy  station,  as  a  field  where  Charity  and  Philanthropy  may  reap  a 
rich  reward  by  wiping  away  the  tears  that  stream  down  many  a  cheek 
in  anguish ;  by  soothing  the  sighs  that  come  up  from  many  a  lone  de- 
sponding heart ;  by  taking  the  friendless  outcast  by  the  hand  and  speak- 
ing words  of  consolation  to  ears  in  which  tones  of  kindness  seem  like  a 
forgotten  dream  of  early,  happy  childhood  ;  by  checking  the  erring  wan- 
derer in  his  career  of  vice  and  crime  and  leading  him  back  to  virtue ;  by 
%'i siting  the  dreary  abodes  of  poverty,  suffering  and  despair  with  comfort 
and  consolation,  and  by  pointing  your  fellow  beings  from  the  paths  of 
folly  and  error  to  those  of  truth,  virtue  and  happiness. 

The  occasion  is  a  propitious  one,  and  never  to  be  forgotten  influences 
should  be  brought  to  bear  upon  you ;  influences  that  may  continue  to 
operate  upon  you  while  you  remain  on  earth ;  influences  that  may  be 
felt  in  the  happiness  you  spread  around  the  hearth  stone  of  many  a  home 
where  suffering,  anguish  and  black  despair  are  now  seen ;  influences  whose 
|)uvity  and  morality  may  be  seen  and  felt  in  all  your  future  associations 
and  in  all  your  \aried  walks  in  life  as  you  travel  onward  from  hence  to 
tiie  grave  :  influences  whose  fruit  may  be  seen  after  this  mortal  shall  have 
]nit  on  imniortahty,  and  the  fettered  spirit  shall  have  burst  the  bonds  of 
clay  asunder  that  bind  it  here,  and  from  the  topmost  round  of  our  Ma- 
Bonic  Ladder  you  may  be  permitted  to  enter  that  celestial  Lodge  above, 
whose  preparation  room  is  the  world,  whose  Tyler  is  Death,  and  whos 
|.^ort>al  is  the  Grave,  where  the  supreme  Architect  of  the  Univei'se,  the 
Lion  of  the  Tribe  of  Judali,  forever  presides,  forever  reigns.  Such  are 
the  influences  that  should  be  brouglit  to  bear  upon  you  my  Brothers,  on 
this  occasion  ;  and  if  your  humble  speaker  were  but  imbued  with  all  the 
jtwfui  majesty  of  language  as  were  the  inspired  prophets  of  old,  he  would 
bring  it  to  bear,  in  ail  its  wild  subhmity,  on  th^  present  occasion,  in  point- 
ing out  to  you  your  duty  Avhile  here  on  earth,  and  in  dehniating  the 
matcliless  glories  that  shine  around  the  throne  of  the  Great  Eternal,  the 
Supreme  High  Priest  of  the  Universe,  into  whose  presence  no  one  can 
fj  enter  without  the  si  (/net  of  God,  a  2)ure  hearty  by  means  of  which  he  |  ) 
niay  pass  the  last  and  inner  veil  to  the  eternal  sanctum  sanctorum  where 
those  who  have  been  redeemed  and  regenerated  by  the  atoning  blood  of 
the  Lamb,  may  sit  down  to  an  eternity  of  unalloyed  happiness,  "  where 
the  wicked  cease  from  troubling  and  the  weary  are  at  rest." 


5 

On  the  present  occasion  then,  it  may  not  be  amiss  for  us  to  contem- 
plate the  purity  and  excellence  of  our  Patron  Saints,  John  the  Baptist 
and  John  the  Evangelist,  in  order  that  we  may  be  the  better  prepared 
to  imitate  their  virtues  and  practice  the  sublime  principles  of  their  mo- 
rality. The  question  is  often  asked,  why  are  Masonic  Lodges  dedicated 
to  these  eminent  Saints  in  the  Christian  Calender  ?  The  question  is  easily 
answered  :  In  the  earher  ages  of  Masonry,  Lodges  were  dedicated  to 
King  Solomon  ;  from  the  Babylonian  captivity  to  the  coming  of  the 
Mesiah,  they  were  dedicated  to  Zerubbabel.  During  these  two  periods, 
Masonry  was  regarded  as  an  institution  pure  in  its  morality,  subhme  in 
its  teachings  and  elevating  in  its  tendencies,  many  of  which  pointed  un- 
erringly to  the  coming  of  the  promised  Mesiah,  and  inasmuch  as  Masons 
were  then  taught  by  allegory  concerning  the  coming  of  the  Saviour,  it  is 
not  strange  that  when  He  came  they  should  at  once  wish  to  make  their 
principles  subservient  to  the  religion  which  He  taught ;  and  they  accord- 
ingly dedicated  their  Lodges  to  St.  John  the  Baptist  from  the  advent  of 
Christ  until  the  final  destruction  of  the  temple.  Confusion  ensued  upon 
this  change  of  the  Patron  Saint,  as  many  zealous  Masons  did  not  beheve 
that  Christ  was  the  Mesiah,  and  they  were  unwilling  to  recognize  The 
Baptist  as  their  patron.  Confusion  was  succeeded  by  indifference  and 
inattention,  and  in  a  few  years,  owing  to  the  persecution  of  the  early 
Christians,  Masonry  fell  into  disi-epute.  In  this  state  of  affairs  a  depu- 
tation of  brethren  waited  upon  St.  John  the  Evangelist,  who  was  then 
the  venerable  Bishop  of  Ephesus,  and  solicited  him  to  patronize  the  Fra- 
ternity by  becoming  its  Grand  Master.  This  he  consented  to  do,  owing 
to  his  attachment  to  the  Order  and  his  faith  in  the  beneficient  tendencies 
of  her  teachings.  Since  then,  all  Christian  Masons  have  dedicated  their 
Lodges  to  the  Baptist  and  the  Evangelist.  Our  Lodges  are  dedicated  to 
these  personages  because  they  were  eminent  for  the  purity  of  their  lives 
and  the  rectitude  of  their  conduct  as  men  ;  because  they  w^ere  eminent 
as  Chiistians  for  their  devotion  to  that  faith  which  was  sealed  by  the 
blood  of  Christ,  and  because  they  were  no  less  eminent  as  men  and 
Christians  than  they  were  as  Masons. 

Then  let  us  take  a  hasty  review  of  their  characters,  for  w^e  as  Masons 
would  be  guilty  of  the  greatest  absurdity  were  we  to  refuse  to  imitate, 
as  far  as  is  in  our  power,  the  virtues  of  our  Patron  Saints. 

John  the  Baptist  was  designed  of  God  for  the  discharge  of  important 
duties,  and  the  miracles  that  attended  his  birth  plainly  indicate,  that  he 
was  designed  to  act  an  important  part  in  the  fearful  drama  of  the  world's 


redemption.  Obedient  to  liis  heavenly  mandate,  lie  appeared  in  tlie 
wilderaess  of  Judea,  preaching  Te])entance^  and  teaching  the  people  to 
"prepare  the  way  of  the  Lord."  John  the  Baptist  only  spake  of  one 
who  was  "  to  come  after  him,"  teaching  not  his  own  doctrines  and  de- 
siring not  to  aggrandise  himself.  So  Masonry  at  the  present  day  doth 
not  arrogate  to  herself  supreme  excellence,  but  with  meekness  and  hu- 
mility points  her  votaries  to  a  purer  shrine  and  a  holier  faith,  which 
shrine  they  must  approach  and  which  faith  they  must  possess  before 
they  enter  the  celestial  Lodge  above  ;  "  for  there  is  no  other  name  given 
under  heaven  whereby  they  can  be  saved."  In  the  humility  of  the 
Baptist  and  his  indifference  to  his  own  glory  and  fame,  w^e  find  a  beau- 
tiful type  of  the  unpretending  excellence  of  Masonry.  He  was  a  man 
so  perfect,  possessing  a  character  so  entirely  without  spot  or  blemish,  and 
"  was  so  lovely  in  his  life  and  manners  "  that  "  all  men  mused  in  their 
hearts  concerning  him,  whether  Ifie  was  the  Christ."  The  character  of 
Masonry  is  such  that  when  the  unprejudiced  beholder  contemplates  its 
beauty,  he  is  led  to  wonder  and  adore,  but  a  voice  immediately  comes 
uj)  from  her  altars,  and,  in  tones  of  heavenly  sweetness,  says  to  him, 
"  I  am  not  the  Christ,  there  is  a  greater  coming  after  me,  whose  shoe's 
latchet  I  am  not  worthy  to  unloose."  As  the  Baptist  prepared  the  way 
for  the  coming  of  the  Son  of  Man,  so  Masonry  endeavors  to  prepare  the 
way  for  his  Gospel  by  softening  and  subduing  the  harsh  asperities  of  our 
nature  and  by  correcting  the  vices  and  irregularities  of  conduct  to  which 
we  are  all  exposed. 

The  Baptist  went  forth  as  the  fearless  champion  of  virtue,  nothing  in- 
timidated by  the  idea  that  his  doctrines  might  not  be  acceptable  to  the 
multitudes  to  whom  he  preached ;  but  being  actuated  by  an  exalted  sense 
of  duty  and  a  burning  desire  to  fulfil  the  divine  missdon  on  which  he 
was  sent,  he  fearlessly  said  to  all  who  came  unto  them,  "  Repent,  for  the 
kingdom  of  heaven  is  at  hand." 

His  Meekness  and  Humihty  are  well  worthy  the  imitation  of  every 
]\Iason  ;  that  softness  of  temper  which  ever  preserved  him  from  irritation 
and  anger  ;  that  mildness  of  spirit  and  gentleness  of  manner  which  en- 
abled him  to  win  his  way  so  effectually  to  the  hearts  of  all  who  heard 
liis  preaching ;  that  forbearance  under  injury  and  provocation  which  pre- 
served him  from  rash  retaliation  and  enabled  him  to  submit  without  a 
murmur  or  repining  word  to  the  decrees  of  heaven,  should  be  the  study 
and  emulation  of  every  good  man  and  true  Mason. 

He  it  was  who  enjoyed  the  glorious  privilege  of  baptising  the  Son  of 


7 

God  in  Jordan,  and  heard  the  voice  from  heaven  declaring,  "  this  is  my 
beloved  Son  in  whom  I  am  well  pleased." 

He  was  seen  by  Isaiah,  as  that  venerable  prophet,  imbued  with  the 
spirit  of  inspiration  and  a  prescience  of  events  that  were  to  happen  in 
after  ages,  lifted  the  veil  which  hides  the  eternity  of  the  future  from  mor- 
tal eye,  and  standing  on  the  heights  of  prophecy  he  saw  him  advancing 
from  the  vales  of  the  future.  That  ancient  prophet  not  only  saw  the 
Baptist  advancing,  but  his  own  eloquence,  the  most  awful  and  sublime 
of  all  the  prophets,  was  silenced  in  mute  astonishment  as  he  heard  the 
voice  of  the  Baptist  coming  up  from  the  far  distant  ages  of  the  future, 
"  crying  in  the  wilderness."  Malachi,  the  last  of  the  prophets,  saw  him 
in  the  visions  of  the  future,  and  in  the  midst  of  those  fearful  denuncia- 
tions which  he  pronounced  against  the  children  of  Israel,  he  prophesied 
the  forerunner  of  Christ,  After  the  Son  of  God  had  entered  upon  that 
high  and  holy  mission  for  which  He  had  been  sent  from  the  throne  of 
heaven  to  this  fallen  world.  He  exclaimed  "  verily,  I  say  unto  you,  that 
among  them  that  are  born  of  women,  there  hath  not  arisen  a  greater 
than  John  the  Baptist." 

The  purity  of  his  life,  the  rectitude  of  his  conduct,  should  inspire  us 
all  with  a  love  of  virtue ;  and  his  constant  reproofs  of  vice  in  all  its  forms, 
should  be, received  by  us  as  admonitions  given  directly  to  us,  to  "  repent, 
for  the  kingdom  of  heaven  is  at  hand."  He  discharged  the  duties  for 
which  he  was  sent,  with  freedom^  fervency  and  zeal^  never  faltering  in 
well-doing  until  at  length  the  proud  ruler  of  Israel  became  incensed  that 
one  so  humble  should  dare  reprove  him  for  his  immorality,  and  ordered 
him  to  be  slain.  Thus  fell  the  earlier  of  our  Patron  Saints,  a  noble 
martyr  to  his  uncompromising  hostility  to  vice  ;  and  shall  the  sad  lesson 
of  his  death  be  lost  upon  the  votaries  of  that  Order  of  which  he  was 
proud  to  be  the  Patron  ?  Can  we  indulge  in  the  vices  and  immoralities 
of  life,  forgetful  of  this  solemn  lesson,  forgetful  of  our  duty  to  ourselves, 
to  our  families,  our  neighbors,  our  country  and  our  God  ?  If  any  incon- 
siderate, thoughtless  brother  hath  been  led  astray ;  if  he  has  never 
thought  of  the-  fearful  weight  of  responsibility  resting  upon  him,  I  would 
ask  him  to  contemplate  the  purity  of  the  Baptist's  character,  and  make 
it  an  ensample  for  his  own  actions  in  future. 

Saint  John  the  Evangelist  was  one  of  the  immediate  disciples  of  Christ 
and  received  directly  from  Him  the  great  principles  of  the  Christian  re- 
Hgion.  The  EvangeHst  was  one  among  the  most  favored  of  the  Apostles 
while  they  remained  with  their  Master ;  he  was  one  of  the  most  successful 


8 

preachers  of  Christianity  after  the  ascension,  and  in  some  respects  was  tJie 
most  remarkable  man  that  ever  Hvecl ;  and  it  is  impossible  for  the  devout 
Mason  to  contemplate  his  character  without  being  made  a  better  man. 

Christ  chose  twelve  Apostles  whom  He-  might  instruct  in  the  sublime 
principles  of  the  redemption  which  He  was  to  prepare  by  offering  up 
His  life  a  ransom  on  the  cross,  and  which  they  were  to  preach  to  all  the 
world  after  He  was  taken  from  them.  Among  those  twelve  there  was 
one  whom  Jesus  loved  above  all  the  rest :  that  one  was  our  noble  Patron ; 
he  was  the  beloved  disciple.  He  was  by  much  the  youngest  of  the  Apos- 
tles, yet  he  was  admitted  into  a  greater  share  of  his  Master's  confidence 
than  any  other.  He  was  one  of  those  to  whom  he  communicated  the 
most  private  transactions  of  His  life ;  one  of  those  whom  He  took  with 
Him  when  He  raised  the  daughter  of  Jairius  from  the  dead ;  one  of  those 
to  whom  He  displayed  a  specimen  of  His  divinity  when  He  revealed  in 
Himself  the  glories  of  the  Father  on  the  mount  of  transfiguration  ;  one 
of  those  who  were  present  at  His  conference  with  Moses  and  Elias  and 
heard  that  voice  which  declared  Him  the  beloved  Son  of  God."  He 
was  the  favored  one  whose  seat  was  beside  the  Saviour  at  the  last  supper, 
where  he  enjoyed  the  blessed  privilege  of  rechning  in  his  Master's  bosom ; 
he  was  one  of  the  chosen  companions  of  His  solitude,  in  His  most  retired 
devotions,  and  he  was  with  Him  during  the  bitter  agonies  of  Gethsemane. 
These  instances  of  particular  favor,  our  Patron  endeavored,  in  some  mea- 
sure, to  answer  by  returns  of  particular  kindness  and  constancy.  For 
though^  he,  with  all  the  other  apostles,  deserted  his  Master  on  His  be- 
trayal, yet  he  was  the  first  to  return  to  his  Saviour,  and  confidently  enter- 
ing the  High  Priest's  hall,  he  followed  his  Lord  through  the  severe  in- 
dignities of  His  trial,  and  was  the  only  one  of  the  disciples  that  followed 
Him  to  calvary,  owning  Him,  as  well  as  being  owned  by  Hiyi,  in  the 
midst  of  armed  soldiers,  and  of  dense  crowds  of  His  most  infuriated  and 
inveterate  enemies.  Here  it  was  that  the  Redeemer  committed  to  our 
Patron's  care,  His  sorrowing  and  disconsolate  mother,  with  His  dying 
breath.  And  certainly  the  holy  Jesus  could  not  have  given  a  more  hon- 
orable or  conclusive  testimony  of  His  particular  respect  and  partiality 
for  St.  John  than  by  leaving  His  own  mother  to  his  trust  and  care,  and 
in  substituting  him  to  supply  that  duty  which  He,  Himself,  had  paid 
her,  while  He  resided  in  this  vale  of  sorrow. 

After  the  Saviour's  ascension,  the  apostles  made  a  division  of  the  pro- 
vinces among  themselves,  when  that  of  Asia  fell  to  the  share  of  St.  John  ; 
he  did  not,  however,  enter  immediately  upon  his  charge,  but  continued 


9 

at  Jerusalem  until  tlie  death  of  the  blessed  Virgin,  which  occurred  about 
fifteen  years  after  the  ascension.  Being  released  from  the  trust  commit- 
ted to  him  by  his  dying  Master,  he  entered  with  zeal  and  efficiency  upon 
his  ministry,  founding  many  churches,  the  most  prominent  of  which  were 
those  at  Smyrna,  Pergamus,  Thyatira,  Sardis,  Philadelphia  and  Laodicea, 
during  which  time  his  chief  place  of  residence  was  at  Ephesus.  After 
spending  several  years  at  Ephesus,  the  Eoman  Emperor,  Domitiah,  began 
a  persecution  against  the  Christians,  and  the  Evangelist  was  sent  bound 
to  Rome,  where  he  met  the  treatment  that  might  have  been  expected 
from  so  barbarous  a  prince,  being  thrown  into  a  cauldron  of  boihng  oil. 
But  the  Almighty  had  further  work  for  him  to  perform,  and  restrained 
the  heat  as  He  did  in  the  fiery  furnance  of  old,  and  delivered  His  faithful 
servant  from  death.  It  might  be  supposed  that  such  an  interposition 
of  miraculous  providence  would  have  caused  the  savage  Emperor's  fury 
to  abate ;  but  on  seeing  him  come  forth  from  the  boiling  fluid  unharmed, 
he  ordered  that  he  should  be  banished  to  the  mines  of  Patmos,  where  he 
remained  until  the  death  of  Domitian,  during  which  time  he  received 
those  thrilling  visions  from  the  throne  of  God  and  the  Lamb,  by  which 
he  was  enabled  to  gaze  far  down  into  futurity  and  behold  the  destiny  of 
the  church  and  the  world  for  countless  ages  to  come. 

St.  John  the  Evangelist  was  the  only  mortal  being  to  whom  the  glories 
of  heaven  were  unveiled,  so  that  he  might  look  upon  them  with  mortal 
eyes ;  to  him  alone  was  it  given  to  look  onward  into  the  dim  vistas  of 
futurity,  and  behold  the  final  consummation  of  all  earthly  things.  Cover- 
ed with  a  mantle  of  glory,  and  "  being  in  the  spirit  on  the  Lord's  day,"  he 
had  the  unspeakable  delight  of  meeting  face  to  face  with  his  risen  and 
ascended  Savior  who  said  unto  him,  "  I  am  he  that  liveth  and  was  dead  ; 
and,  behold,  I  am  alive  forevermore  ;"  he  it  was  to  whom  the  attendant 
angels  presented  "the  bride,  the  Lamb's  wife."  The  radiant  glories  of 
Paradise  were  unfolded  to  him,  he  there  beheld  the  souls  of  those  Avho 
were  slain  for  the  cause  of  Christ,  he  there  beheld  "  the  souls  of  those 
who  came  up  through  much  tribulation  ;"  he  heard  the  songs  of  gTory 
and  the  shouts  of  rejoicing  that  arise  continually  from  the  redeemed 
throng  who  surround  the  eternal  throne. 

On  the  death  of  Domitian,  his  successor,  Narva,  repealed  those  odi- 
ous edicts,  and  the  Evangelist  was  permitted  to  return  to  Ephesus,  where 
he  immediately  entered  upon  the  active  duties  of  his  ministry,  travelling 
far  and  wide  to  instruct  the  world  in  the  principles  of  that  holy  religion 
he  was  sent  to  propagate  :  and  thus  did  he  continue  to  labor  until  death 


10 

put  an  end  to  all  his  toils  and  sufferings  ;  wMch  happened  in  the  begin- 
ning of  Trajan's  reign,  in  the  ninety-eighth  year  of  his  age ;  and,  accord- 
ing to  Eusebius,  his  remains  were  buried  in  Ephesus. 

The  most  prominent  trait  in  the  character  of  the  Evangehst  was  his 
humility,  which  ever  led  him  to  conceal  his  own  honor.  In  his  gospel 
and  epistles  he  never  styles  himself  either  apostle  or  evangelist ;  and 
when,  in  his  gospel,  he  speaks  of  "  the  disciple  whom  Jesus  loved,"  he 
constantly  conceals  his  own  name,  leaving  the  reader  to  discover  whom 
he  meant. 

The  writings  of  the  Evangelist  are  among  the  most  beautiful  and  in- 
structing of  all  in  the  Bible.  The  Apocalypse  was  the  first  book  he  wrote, 
though  placed  last  in  the  sacred  canon  ;  next,  in  point  of  time,  are  his 
three  epistles,  wTitten  in  the  order  in  which  they  are  placed,  and  last  in 
point  of  time,  though  first  in  its  position  in  the  Bible,  is  his  gospel. 

Before  he  commenced  this  last  great  task  of  writing  the  Gospel,  he 
appointed  a  general  fast  to  be  observed  by  all  the  churches  in  Asia,  to 
implore  the  blessing  of  heaven  on  so  great  and  momentous  an  under- 
taking. When  this  was  done,  he  set  about  the  work,  and  completed  it 
in  so  excellent  and  sublime  a  manner  that  the  ancients  generally  com- 
pared him  to  an  eagle  soaring  aloft  among  the  clouds,  whither  the  weak 
eye  of  man  was  not  able  to  follow  him.  St.  Basil  says  that  "  among  all 
the  evangelical  writers  none  are  like  St.  John,  the  son  of  thunder,  for  the 
sublimity  of  his  speech,  and  the  heighth  of  his  discourses,  which  are 
beyond  any  man's  capacity  fully  to  reach  and  comprehend."  Epiphanius 
says  that,  "  St.  John,  as  a  true  son  of  thunder,  by  a  loftiness  of  speech 
peculiar  to  himself,  acquaints  us,  as  it  were,  out  of  the  clouds  and  dark 
recesses  of  wisdom,  mth  the  divine  doctrine  of  the  Son  of  God." 

Such  were  the  Patron  Saints  of  Masonry  :  men  so  pure  in  their  lives, 
so  upright  and  consistent  in  all  their  actions  that  even  the  fiercest  ene- 
mies of  the  christian  religion  have  never  been  able  to  discover  the  least 
blemish  or  defect  in  either  ;  men  who  acted  a  conspicuous  part  in  the 
introduction  of  the  world's  redemption,  one  as  the  herald  of  Christ,  the 
other  as  the  disciple  whom  He  loved ;  men  whose  memories  have  sur- 
vived the  wreck  of  empires,  and  whose  names  must  live  while  time  itself 
endures,  treasured  in  the  heart  of  every  believer  in  the  Christian  faith,  so 
intimately  are  they  connected  with  the  dearest  hope  that  warms  the  chris- 
tian heart.  And  it  is  your  duty,  my  brothers  ;  it  is  the  duty  of  every 
Mason,  to  imitate  and  emulate  the  pure  lives  of  our  Patron  Saints.  Every 
Mason  should  be  a  thinking  man ;  he  should  think  of  the  fearful  respon- 


11 

sibility  there  is  resting  upon  him  in  hfe,  a  responsibility  that  will  survive 
the  grave  and  be  felt  throughout  the  boundless  ages  of  eternity ;  he 
should  think  of  the  weight  his  influence  may  give  to  a  bad  practice,  per- 
haps causing  some  innocent,  unsuspecting  youth  to  run  astray  from  the 
paths  of  virtue  and  enter  the  great  whirlpool  of  vice ;  he  should  think 
and  reflect  upon  the  beauty  and  loveliness  of  virtue,  and  upon  the  ugli- 
ness and  deformity  of  vice  ;  he  should  ever  reflect  upon  the  fact  that  the 
life  of  virtue  and  strict  morality,  is  the  life  of  the  greatest  pleasure  and 
happiness  ;  while  the  life  of  the  evil-doer  is  beset  with  sharp  thorns  of 
anguish  and  bitter  tears  of  remorse,  /j  Let  me  ask  of  you,  my  brothers, 
if  any  of  you  ever  committed  an  act,  some  little  folly,  for  which  you 
condemned  yourselves  when  cooler  moments  came  over  you  and  reason 
had  taken  the  place  of  excitement,  of  thoughtlessness,  or  of  passion  ? 
How  bitter  in  that  moment  was  your  self-regret,  that  you  should  have 
been  led  astray  so  far  as  to  forget  the  becoming  dignity  of  a  gentleman 
and  say  a  word  or  do  a  deed  to  wound  the  kinder  feelings  of  some  other 
fellow-being !  By  every  such  act  of  yours,  you  plant  a  thorn  in  your 
own  bosoms  that  will  rankle  there  until  the  latest  hour  of  your  existence ;  H 
and,  more  fearful  still  the  thought,  you  may  have  said  or  done  those 
things  which  can  never  be  forgotten  by  others,  for  they  may  have  sunk 
deep  into  sensitive  hearts.  Let  me  ask  of  you  again,  my  brothers,  of 
the  silent  pleasure,  the  pure  joy,  that  comes  forth,  as  an  overflowing 
fountain,  to  pervade  your  whole  being,  with  the  consciousness  of  duty 
performed,  of  purity  vindicated,  and  innocence  sustained ;  you  are  then 
happy,  and  the  chief  source  of  your  happiness  is  the  sweet  consciousness 
that  you  have  done  something  to  make  others  happy ;  you  may  have 
given  a  wandering,  homeless  orphan  a  piece  of  bread ;  you  may  have 
clad  the  shivering  limbs  of  helpless  age ;  you  may  have  entered  the 
squallid  abode  of  poverty,  and  there  administered  comfort  to  hearts  that 
were  ready  to  despair ;  you  may  have  wiped  away  the  tears  of  orphan- 
age, and  sent  joy  and  sunshine  into  cheerless  homes  and  benighted 
hearts ;  you  may  have  stood  up  boldly  in  defiance  of  the  scoffs^nd 
sneers  of  the  vicious,  and  vindicated  the  cause  of  virtue  and  purity. 
Would  you  exchange  one  such  moment  of  quiet  happiness  for  years  of 
heartless  dissipation  and  folly  ?  When  you  have  heard  the  widow's 
prayer  and  the  orphan's  supplication  ascending  to  the  throne  of  heaven, 
imploring  blessings  to  rest  upon  the  good  man's  name,  have  you  not 
thought  that  such  prayers,  breaking  forth  from  the  lips  of  innocence, 
and  ascending  from  hearts  of  spotless  purity,  were  wprth  more  than  all 


12 

the  idle  words  of  adulation  and  flattery  tliat  a  heartless  world  could 
bestow  ?  If  the  cause  of  virtue  has  such  strong  reasons  to  commend 
itself  to  one  not  a  Mason,  how  doubly  strong  are  the  reasons  urged  by 
Masonry  why  all  her  votaries  should  be  upright  and  virtuous  and  kind  ? 
All  the  claims  that  are  binding  upon  you  as  men,  continue  binding  upon 
you  as  Masons,  for  it  is  one  of  her  primary  objects  to  enforce  the  moral 
law,  the  laws  of  kindness,  benevolence  and  charity,  in  all  their  beauty 
and  in  all  their  purity.  After  indulging  such  a  train  of  thought  as  this, 
you  will  see  the  propriety  of  adopting  as  Patron  Saints,  men  of  such 
unblemished  purity  of  morals,  of  such  a  stern  regard  to  the  dictates  of 
truth  and  who  were  so  fearless  in  the  discharge  of  every  duty  as  the 
Baptist  and  the  Evangelist,  and  I  ask  of  you  to  contemplate  well  the 
excellence  of  their  characters,  and  at  least  to  make  an  effort  to  approxi- 
mate to  them  in  the  fearless  discharge  of  duty  in  defiance  of  the  sneers 
of  the  vicious  and  unprincipled,  and  the  opposition  of  those  who  through 
ignorance  or  prejudice  may  be  the  enemies  of  Masonry. 

The  true  Mason  must  be  the  friend  of  virtue  and  the  foe  of  vice  ;  he 
must  exert  himself  to  lessen  the  amount  of  human  misery  and  to  increase 
the  sum  of  human  happiness.  It  is  not  enough  that  a  Mason  be  an 
upright  man  himself,  so  long  as  he  sees  others  going  astray  in  the  paths 
of  recklessness,  folly  and  crime  ;  for  every  Mason  is  expected  to  be,  and 
if  he  does  his  duty,  will  be,  a  fearless  and  daring  soldier  in  the  cause  of 
honor,  integrity  and  uprightness.  There  is  now  a  warfare  going  on,  one 
that  has  been  raging  for  unnumbered  ages  ;  it  is  a  warfare  between  the 
forces  of  Truth  and  Error.  Many  fierce  and  deadly  conflicts  have  been 
fought  with  varied  success.  The  armies  of  Truth  have  generally  been 
successful,  but  at  times,  when  Error  has  entered  into  a  league  offensive 
and  defensive  with  Bigotry,  Ignorance,  Prejudice  and  Fanaticism,  Truth 
has  been  driven  from  the  field,  but  she  has  never  been  conquered,  for 

"  Truth  crushed  to  earth  will  rise  again." 
These  conflicts  have  occurred,  they  must  occur  again ;  combats  must 
occur,  the  sound  of  hostile  forces  must  be  heard,  tournaments  must  be 
seen  ;  but  let  the  forces  be  the  invincible  sons  of  Truth,  opposed  to  the 
hireling,  craven  minions  of  Error  ;  and  let  the  pageants  be  no  other  than 
the  fierce  strife  of  stalwart  mind  with  mind.  You  have  minds  which  it 
is  your  duty  to  cultivate  ;  and  you  should  strive,  not  so  much  for  brilKant 
and  gigantic  attainments,  as  for  attainments  in  moral  purity  and  excel- 
lence. If  splendor  and  power  of  intellect  merely  be  the  standard,  let 
men  admire  the  electric  fire  as  it  glances  along  the  path  of  the  storm  ; 


13 

true,  it  may  rend  the  eartli  and  spread  terror  and  death  among  men  ; 
but  what  of  that  ?  behold  bow  grand  and  beautiful  it  plays  and  flashes 
along  the  sky  !  Let  them  gaze  with  delight  upon  the  almost  angehc 
glory  of  the  Lucifer  of  modern  poetry,  while  from  the  dark  portentious 
shadows  of  his  wings  he  distills  upon  the  hearth  stone  of  innocence  and 
purity  the  cold  death  damps  of  passion  and  guilt.  Has  mind  no  greater 
glory  than  mere  display  ?  Does  its  chief  excellence  consist  in  being 
wrought  into  productions  of  beauty,  elegance  and  power  ?  to  be  valued 
only  for  its  ingenuity  and  refinement  ?  If  so,  let  men  admire  the  brilhant 
productions  of  heathen  philosophers  ;  true  their  philosophy  is  like  their 
own  mythelogical  heavens,  peopled  with  bright,  but  cold  and  inaccessi- 
ble deities  ;  while  the  philosophy  of  the  modern  is  like  the  heaven  of 
the  Christian,  resplendant  with  the  glory  of  infinite  love.  But  shall  mind 
be  only  a  field  for  display  ?  Shall  it  be  trained  only  for  gladiatorial  en- 
counters of  skill  and  strength  ?  Encounters  must  and  will  occur,  but  let 
them  be  only  the  mighty  conflicts  of  truth  and  error.  Pageants  will  be 
seen,  but  let  them  be  the  sheen  of  the  burnished  armor  and  the  array 
of  the  embattled  hosts  of  invincible  Truth. 

Truth  is  one  of  the  tenets  of  a  Masons  profession,  and  when  encoun- 
ters occur  you  are  to  be  sought  for  in  the  ranks  of  Truth.  Nor  are  you 
to  be  trembling,  doubting  soldiers  in  this  warfare  ;  you  must  go  forth 
fearlessly,  to  meet  the  champions  of  Error.  Go  forth  with  hiuiiilify,  too, 
not  with  vain  boasting  and  arrogant  words.  Go  forth  as  went  the  son 
of  Jesse,  with  a  firm  reliance  upon  the  God  you  serve  and  the  correct- 
ness of  your  cause  ;  go  to  the  great  fountain  of  Truth,  which  is  ever  full, 
an  ever  welling  springs  aiid  there  gather  a  few  smooth e  pebbles  and  place 
them  in  your  sling  ;  with  these  go  forth,  not  in  the  spirit  of  vain  glory, 
but  with  meekness  and  humility,  and  the  Gohah  of  your  enemies  will 
fall  before  you. 

But  before  you  become  veteran  warriors  in  the  ranks  of  Masonry,  you 
should  have  so  studied  the  principles  of  our  Institution  that  you  can 
properly  appreciate  them.  The  individual  who  for  the  first  time  gazes 
up  into  the  glorious  arch  of  heaven,  and  beholds  the  radiant  jewels  that 
pave  the  paths  where  angels  tread  is  filled  with  wonder  and  delight ; — 
but  how  much  purer  is  his  dehght  when  he  is  told  that  they  have  shone 
in  heaven  since  creations  natal  evening ;  that  they  sang  together  when 
the  earth  sprang  forth  fi-om  the  realms  of  chaos  to  take  a  place  among 
the  constellated  luminaries  of  the  universe  as  a  world  of  life  and  light, 
of  joy  and  love,  of  innocence  and  purity.    Trace  out  for  him  the  brilliant 


14 

constellations  that  gem  the  vault  of  night,  relate  to  him  the  thousand 
legends  of  the  early  astronomers,  the  tales  of  mortals  deified  and  stationed 
in  the  heavens  ;  lead  him  forth  gradually  to  behold  in  each  bright  star 
a  magnificient  sun,  the  centre  of  a  system  as  large  or  larger  than  our 
own,  vnth  its  train  of  planets,  satellites  and  far  sweeping  comets  ;  point 
him  to  the  grandeur  of  the  milk-y way,  lead  him  onward  and  still  onward 
in  imagination  until  he  is  conveyed  incalculable  millions  of  miles  beyond 
the  most  distant  point  that  optic  glasses  ever  reached,  and  there  standing 
upon  some  beautiful  planet  in  those  distant  fields  of  space,  point  out  to 
him  the  countless  myriads  of  new  worlds  beyond  ;  point  him  to  the  side- 
real heavens,  where  there  are  myriads  of  suns  bound  in  one  mighty  bro- 
therhood ;  then  prove  to  him  that  our  sun,  w^ith  its  attendant  constella- 
tions, is  performing  a  revolution  around  some  common  centre  of  the  uni- 
verse in  which  its  motion  is  at  the  rate  of  two  hundred  thousand  miles 
an  hour  ;  and  that  moving  with  this  velocity,  it  requires  eighteen  million 
two  hundred  thousand  years  to  perform  the  revolution,  and  he  Avill  ex- 
claim, "  Insufferable  is  the  glory  of  God, — let  me  lie  down  in  the  grave." 

So  with  the  candidate  :  when  his  eye  for  the  first  time  rests  upon  the 
hghts  and  jewels  of  Masonry ;  w^hen  he  listens  for  the  first  time  to  the 
treasures  of  her  traditionary  lore,  when  he  hears  for  the  first  time  the 
subhme  exposition  of  her  principles,  he  is  filled  w  ith  wonder  and  dehght ! 
But  *as  yet  he  knows  little  or  nothing  of  Masonry.  Take  him  by  the 
hand  and  lead  him  onward  and  upward  amid  the  glories  of  the  Order ; 
teach  him  to  converse  in  a  language  which  is  universal ;  explain  to  him 
the  sublime  allegorical  meaning  of  our  lights,  and  jewels,  and  emblems ; 
teach  him  to  converse  in  that  voice  of  silvery  sweetness  which  hath  such 
magic  power  as  to  disarm  a  human  being  of  the  wildest,  most  fearful 
^nd  destructive  passions  that  the  heart  of  man  is  subject  to  ;  lead  him 
to  appreciate  the  seraphic  loveliness  and  heavenly  purity  of  every  prin- 
ciple taught,  and  every  emotion  created ;  teach  him  that  this  is  the  vitali- 
ty, the  very  soul  of  Masonry  without  w^hich  it  w^ould  be  like  a  blazing- 
arrow^  shot  through  the  blackest  midnight,  which -in  its  flight  would  daz- 
zle every  beholder,  but  striking  no  shining  mark  it  leaves  all  in  a  dark- 
ness more  profound  than  before.  Then  lead  him  forth  to  a  bolder  flight, 
and  show  him  hundreds  and  thousands  of  Masons  in  his  own  country, 
all  possessing  the  elements  of  this  same  universal  language  ;  all  skilled 
in  the  same  traditionary  learning  with  himself — they  members  of  Lodges 
w^here  the  same  jewelry  is  seen  and  the  same  bright  lights  burning  wdiich 
he  first  beheld — those  Lodges  governed  by  the  same  Constitution,  and 


15 

revolving  in  peace  and  harmony  around  a  common  centre.  Lead  hira 
onward  and  traverse  with  him  the  great  highways  of  the  world  where 
he  will  behold  different  races  of  men,  and  where  his  ear  will  hsten  to  the 
accents  of  strange  languages,  and  show  him  that  he  has  a  language  with 
which  he  can  converse  even  there,  and  by  means  of  which  he  can  awake 
the  tenderest  chord  of  their  sympathetic  hearts ;  leave,  with  him,  the 
abodes  of  civilization  and  the  lands  of  universal  science,  and  take  him 
far  off  among  the  wild  sons  of  the  desert,  or  among  the  red  men  of  the 
forest,  and  let  him  behold  the  same  mysterious  language  used  in  its  per- 
fection among  those  untutored  children  of  nature ;  lift  the  veil  of  the 
past  and  point  him  backward  in  the  world's  history  for  thousands  of  years, 
and  let  him  behold  Masonry  flourishing  in  the  full  vigor  of  maturity  in 
those  primeval  ages  of  the  world ;  the  same  science,  inculcating  the  same 
pure  principles  of  morality,  and  the  same  high  and  noble  aspirations  that 
he  now  beholds  it ;  tell  him  of  the  millions  of  wise  and  good  and  great 
men  who  have  taken  the  same  vows  with  himself,  and  whose  eyes  once 
rested  with  delight  upon  the  same  emblems  he  now  beholds  ;  tell  him 
they  were  his  brothers,  although  ages  upon  ages  intervene  between  him 
and  them,  and  they,  having  completed  all  the  designs  laid  down  upon 
the  great  tressle  hoard  of  life  for  them,  have  been  called  off  from  labor 
in  the  lodge  of  earth  to  refreshment  in  the  celestial  lodge  above,  where 
they  have  all  received  the  reward  of  their  labors  ;  tell  him  of  heart-broken 
widows,  comforted  and  protected ;  of  wandering,  friendless  orphans  be- 
friended, educated  and  prepared  for  usefulness  and  honor  in  the  Avorld ; 
tell  him  of  the  tears  that  have  been  dried,  the  sorrows  that  have  been 
soothed,  the  sighs  that  have  been  hushed,  the  wants  that  have  been  re- 
lieved, the  wanderers  that  have  been  reclaimed,  the  vice  it  has  subdued, 
and  the  immorality  it  has  overcome,  and  he  will  exclaim,  surely  Masonry 
is  the  handmaid  of  our  holy  religion ;  for  -her  foundation  stone  is  truth, 
her  superstructure  is  virtue,  her  fruit  is  charity,  her  empire  is  the  wide 
world.  Teach  him  that  this  universal  language  is  as  impressive  now  as 
it  was  w^ien  the  Chaldean  shepherds  watched  their  flocks  upon  the  plains 
of  Asia,  although  the  languages  of  those  nations  ha\^  sank  beneath  the 
w^ave  of  oblivion,  and  that  it  is  through  the  medium  of  Masonry,  which 
has  survived  the  wrecks  of  ages  and  empires  that  we  breath,  as  it  were, 
the  air  of  ages  whose  memory  is  now  well  nigh  forgotten  ;  and  that 
Masonry  now  constitutes  the  strongest  chain  by  which  we  are  bound  to 
antiquity,  and  his  soul  will  be  excited  with  emotions  of  the  purest  order, 
and  he  will  be  overwhelmed  with  the  most  exalted  conceptions  of  the 


16 

majesty  and  power  of  an  Institution  so  venerable  in  years  that  its  origin 
is  hidden  by  the  laps  of  countless  ages. 

Here  I  might  pause ;  but  other  topics  present  themselves  with  such  force 
that  I  am  constrained  to  trespass  upon  your  patience  yet  a  little  longer, 

THE  TENETS  OF  A  MASONS  PROFESSION  ARE  BROTHERLY  LOVE, 
RELIEF  AND  TRUTH. 

By  Brotherly  Love  we  are  taught  to  regard  the  whole  human  species 
as  one  great  family  of  which  we  are  members.  We  are  thereby  taught 
that  certain  duties  devolve  upon  us  as  members  of  this  family,  which 
it  is  our  bounden  duty  to  perform.  Human  happiness  is  the  great  end 
and  aim  of  human  existence ;  for  this  purpose  governments  have  been 
established  and  society  has  been  founded,  with  rules  and  regulations  that 
no  one  can  transgress  without  detracting  from  his  own  happiness,  or  the 
happiness  of  some  fellow  being.  These  rules  and  regulations  have  been 
instituted  for  the  happpiness  of  all.  It  is  not  for  me,  for  you,  or  any 
other  individual,  or  for  any  class  of  individuals  that  these  regulations 
have  been  made ;  but  for  universal  man.  Man,  placed  separate  and 
apart  by  himself,  is  more  helpless  than  the  beasts  that  roam  the  wilder- 
ness :  it  is  only  as  a  member  of  society  that  he  is  or  can  be  any  thing. 
It  is  to  society  he  must  look  for  all  the  comforts  and  enjoyments  of  lite : 
when  each  member  of  society  does  his  duty,  laboring  either  mentally  or 
physically,  happiness  will  be  promoted ;  and  we  ought  to  reflect  upon  the 
important  fact  that  inasmuch  as  it  is  from  society  that  we  derive  our 
happiness,  we  ought  to  exert  ourselves  to  the  best  of  our  ability  to  promote 
the  happiness  of  others ;  it  is  our  duty  not  only  as  men,  but  as  Masons, 
for  Brotlierly  Love  is  one  of  the  purest  emotions  of  the  heart,  and  teaches 
us  to  regard  a  brother's  interest  and  a  brother's  ha])pihess  as  our  own. 

Relief  teaches  us  to  go  forth  as  the  good  Samaritan  to  bind  up  the 
wounds,  relieve  the  distress  and  provide  for  the  wants  of  any  suffering 
fellow  being  whom  we  may  meet.  It  teaches  us  not  to  limit  our  benev- 
olence and  sympathy  to  our  own  immediate  friends  or  kindred,  but 
wherever  we  And  a  fellow  being,  bearing  the  image  of  our  Creator,  who 
is  an  object  of  charity,  there  should  we  be  ready  to  perform  those  acts  of 
kindness  and  labors  of  love  which,  we  are  taught  in  the  Holy  Scriptures, 
are  incumbent  upon  us  all.  The  distribution  of  alms  is  not  the  only  field 
for  expansive  charity  ;  but  when  we  do  any  thing  to  increase  the  happiness 
or  lessen  the  misery  of  a  fellow  being  we  are  performing  the  mission  of 
heavenly  charity.  A  word  of  kindness,  a  kind  look,  a  friendly  pressure 
of  the  hand  may  be  so  gratefully  received  by  some  unfortunat<3  being  as 


17 

to  be  nevei*  forgotten.  These  are  things,  so  small  in  themselves,  that 
■vve  are  very  liable  to  forget  them,  but 

"  A  little  word  in  kindness  spokenj 

A  motion  or  a  tear 
Hath  often  healed  a  heart  that's  broken, 

And  made  a  friend  sincere." 

There  are  those  upon  whom  misfortune  will  come  ;  it  will  come  upon  us 
all;  and  there  are  moments  when  the  world,  with  all  of  its  beautiful 
scenes,  appear  a  dreary  waste,  when  utter  desolation  comes  over  the 
heart,  and  nature  seems  clad  in  saccloth.  In  such  an  hour,  when  the  soul 
retires  within  itself  to  commune  with  the  spirits  of  loved  lost  ones,  how 
grateful  are  those  little  attentions :  the  affectionate,  silent  pressure  of  the 
hand  tells  thrillingly  upon  the  heart,  and  a  gentle,  affectionate  glance  of 
the  eye  sinks  down  into  the  very  depths  of  the  soul,  never  to  be  forgotten. 
They  are  more  powerful  by  far  than  the  most  studied  forais  of  fashionable 
sympathy  and  condolence.  Then  let  us,  my  Brothers,  speak  tenderly 
to,  and  look  kindly  upon,  all.  A  harsh,  reproachful  glance  of  the  eye 
often  wounds  more  deeply  than  bitter  words.  "  Not  all  the  pleasure 
kind  looks  or  kind  words  give,  or  have  given  in  life,  can  balance  the  pain 
that  reproachful  eyes  occasion— eyes  that  have  become  sealed  over  with 
that  leaden  seal  which  lifts  not how  expressive  their  contempt,  how 
powerful  the  language  they  convey ; — "  how  they  pierce  one  by  day 
time,  and  more  dreadfully  by  night, — through  and  through.  Harsh 
words  may  slip  and  be  forgotten ;  but  ungrateful  looks,  reproachful  looks, 
haunt  us  continually :  we  cannot  flee  from  them ;  they  are  ever  present 
with  us  by  day,  and  when  we  sleep  they  haunt  us  still  and  make  up  all 
that  is  most  terrible  in  dreams." 

Truth  is  one  of  the  tenets  of  Mason's  profession,  and  it  is  a  principle 
without  which  no  character  can  be  perfect.  It  is  here  used  in  its  most 
expansive  sense  in  which  it  signifies  not  only  the  absence  of  falsehood  in 
our  statements  and  declarations,  but  the  conformity  of  words  to  thoughts, 
which  has  ever  been  denominated  moral  truth^  exact  accordance^ with 
that  which  is,  or  has  been,  or  shall  be.  Truth  when  used  to  signify  the 
absence  of  falsehood  is  a  virtue  so  absolutely  essential  to  an  individuaFs 
well  being  and  respectability  in  society,  that  I  need  not  even  pause  to 
call  your  attention  to  its  observance.  But  moral  truth  is  a  virtue  more 
frequently  neglected,  and  its  neglect  is  frequently  the  source  of  the  most 
serious  and  lementable  results.  In  its  most  expansive  sense  it  means  a 
true  man,  a  good  man  ;  one  who  can  be  rehed  on  at  any  time  and  und«r 


18 

all  emergencies ;  one  whom  tlie  devious  winds  of  fortune  or  tlie  fickle 
gales  of  chance  cannot  turn  astray.  One  who  never  makes  empty  and 
idle  professions  of  friendship,  but  who  utters  only  the  true  sentiments  of 
his  heart.  There  are  those  people  in  the  world  who,  like  Janus,  have 
two  faces:  when  in  your  presence  they  will  be  most  profuse  in  their 
professions  of  friendship  and  attachment,  but  who,  in  your  absence,  will 
say  all  manner  of  evil  things  against  you  to  ruin  your  fair  fame.  Such 
persons  are  the  worst  enemies  we  can  have,  they  destroy  the  peace  and 
happiness  of  community,  and  cause  much  bitterness  and  many  sorrows. 
I  hope  for  the  honor  of  the  Fraternity  that  no  Mason  will  ever  be  guilty 
of  such  a  moral  delinquency,  for  such  a  person  is  more  pernicious  and 
more  to  be  dreaded  than  one  who  is  notorious  for  his  falsehoods. 

The  cardinal  virtues  of  Masonry  are  Temperance^  Fortitude^  Pru- 
dence and  JusticCj  and  as  there  are  many  valuable  lessons  of  instruction 
contained  in  them  without  which  no  Masonic  character  can  be  complete, 
I  will  call  your  attention  briefly  to  them. 

Temperance  is  used  here  not  merely  to  denote  the  absence  of  intox- 
ication in  the  use  of  ardent  spirits,  but  in  that  more  expansive  sense  in 
which  it  is  used  by  the  Apostle  Paul  when  he  says  "  every  man  that 
striveth  for  the  mastery  is  temperate  in  all  things."  In  this  sense  it 
means  temperance  in  speech,  in  action,  in  desire,  and  in  appetite ;  mod- 
eration in  the  indulgence  of  the  passions,  by  which  a  person  will  be  cool, 
calm,  collected  and  self-possessed  in  every  emergency.  This  virtue 
teaches  us  that  we  should  keep  a  restraint  upon  our  speech  and  never 
suffer  ourselves  to  say  any  thing  that  may  injure  another  person.  But 
the  great  lesson  intended  to  be  conveyed  is  that  of  temperance  in  the  use 
of  intoxicating  drinks.  I  do  not  know  as  I  would  make  a  change  in  Ma- 
sonry if  I  had  the  power  ;  it  is  so  nearly  perfect,  its  organization  is  such 
as  to  have  enabled  it  to  survive  so  many  fearful  revolutions  of  public 
opinion  that  I  would  hesitate  long  before  I  added  to,  or  subtracted  from 
her  principles  ; — but  if  I  were  to  make  a  change  it  would  be  in  the  en- 
tire prohibition  of  all  intoxicating  drinks  among  her  members.  I  need 
not  enlarge  on  this  subject,  however,  for  you  my  Brethren,  have  heard 
my  views  upon  it  before,  and  I  will  only  say  for  the  benefit  of  those  who 
are  uninitiated,  that  no  true  Mason  will  permit  himself  to  become  intox- 
icated. 

Fortitude  is  that  strength  and  firmness  of  mind  by  which  a  person 
is  enabled  to  encounter  danger  with  calmness  and  courage,  and  to  bear 
adversity  without  murmuring,  depression,  or  despondency.    This  virtue 


19 

is  neither  assimilated  to  rashness,  or  cowardice,  but  is  equally  removed 
from  both  ;  and  it  teaches  us  that  we  should  be  as  firm  and  unyielding 
in  our  principles  of  honor,  integrity  and  uprightness  as  the  eternal  hills. 

Prudence  is  the  application  of  wisdom  to  practice,  and  implies  cau- 
tion in  delilierating  and  consulting  on  the  most  suitable  means  for  accom- 
plishing valuable  |)urposes.  A  man  may  be  wise,  but  not  prudent,  for 
prudence  imphes  more  caution,  investigation  and  reserve  than  wisdom. 
We  should  never  do,  or  say  any  thing  to  affect  another  without  the 
greatest  prudence  in  deliberating  upon  its  propriety.  Prudence  is  truth- 
fully represented  in  the  Hyeroglyphical  language  of  Masonry  by  a 
beautiful  woman  viewing  herself  in  a  mirror,  from  which  we  may  draw 
a  valuable  lesson  ; — it  teaches  us  that  we  should  endeavor  to  see  our 
o'vvn  actions  in  the  same  light  in  which  they  are  seen  by  others  ;  or  as 
our  departed  Brother,  the  unrivalled  minstrel  of  Scotland  expresses  it, 

"  O  wad  some  Power  the  giftie  gie  us 

To  see  oursels  as  others  see  us, 

It  wad  frae  monie  a  blunder  free  us.'* 

We  would  all  of  us  conduct  ourselves  very  differently  at  times  if  we 
could  behold  our  actions  through  the  same  medium  in  which  they  are 
beheld  by  others.  This  representation  of  prudence  also  teaches  us  that 
we  should  be  as  careful  to  remove  all  defects  or  blemishes  from  our 
hearts  and  consciences  as  we  would  be  in  removing  any  defect  or  blem- 
ish from  our  external  appearance ;  and  that  as  we  bestow  much  care 
and  attention  in  attiring  our  persons  in  such  a  manner  as  to  appear 
comely  and  respectable  among  our  friends,  so  should  we  bestow  the 
strictest  attention  upon  an  inward  preparation  for  a  presence  in  which 
we  must  all  appear,  and  where  we  will  have  to  pass  a  strict  examination 
at  the  door  of  the  celestial  Lodge  above,  when  if  purity  of  heart  and 
rectitude  of  conduct  be  found  wanting,  we  will  be  condemned  to  eternal 
banishment  from  those  whose  work  has  been  approved  and  whose  wa- 
ges is  the  immediate  entrance  upon  the  full  fruition  of  unending  felicity. 

Justice  is  that  virtue  which  consists  in  giving  to  every  one  what  is 
due ;  a  strict  conformity  to  the  principles  of  rectitude  in  our  dealings 
with  all  men ;  a  fair  judgment  and  an  exact  expression  of  opinion  con- 
cerning the  merit,  or  demerit  of  others.  In  its  most  expansive  sense, 
that  in  which  we  use  it  as  Masons,  it  means  the  doing  of  that  which  is 
right,  and  the  abstaining  from  every  thing  which  is  wrong.  Justice  is 
represented  in  Masonic  language  by  a  female  figure,  blindfolded,  holding 
evenly  balanced  scales  in  her  left  hand  and  the  sword  of  Justice  in  her 


20 

right  hand,  which  teaches  us  that  the  evenly  balanced  scales  should  be 
our  guide  in  all  our  dealings,  remembering  that  the  sword  of  Justice  will 
sooner  or  later  overtake  us  and  mete  out  to  us  a  merited  punishment  for 
all  our  misdeeds. 

II  When  we  look  abroad  into  the  world  and  scan  the  position^of  different 
persons  and  of  associations,  we  find,  in  some  instances,  that  party  hnes  too 
strictly  drawn,  and  sectarian  impulses  too  closely  adhered  to,  create  divi- 
sions and  dissensions  which  ever  have  and,  as  long  as  they  continue  to 
exercise  their  present  influence,  ever  will,  mar  the  fair  face  of  society, 
destroy  its  peace  and  happiness,  turning  brother  against  brother,  friend 
against  friend,  and  finally  eventuate  in  the  most  relentless  animosities, 
which  not  only  rankle  during  life,  but,  after  having  pursued  the  object  of 
hatred  till  death,  and  seen  the  cold  clods  of  the  grave  hide  him  from 
mortal  sight,  will  persecute  his  memory  with  all  the  unrelenting  hatred  in 
which  they  would  pursue  a  living,  breathing  enemy.  We  behold  this  l  \. 
state  of  affairs  in  the  political  world  Avhere  neighbor  is  turned  against 
neighbor  and  even  father  against  son,  simply  because  the  one  admires  a 
man  whom  the  other  dislikes,  because  the  one  believes  that  certain  mea- 
sures are  right  and  just  which  the  other  believes  to  be  wrong ;  we 
behold  it  in  church  affairs  where  one  withholds  all  fellowship  from  his 
fellow  christian  because  he  has  been  baptized  by  sprinkling  instead  of 
immersion ; — because  one  believes  in  the  final  perseverance  of  the  saints 
and  the  other  believes  in  the  doctrine  of  falling  from  grace,  and  in  a 
thousand  other  ways  this  spirit  is  seen  to  show  itself  to  the  entire  dis- 
comfiture of  all  feelings  of  charity  or  happiness.  This  is  really  a  sad 
state  of  affairs,  and  hajDpy  would  the  world  be  if  such  a  spirit  could  be 
forever  banished  from  the  abodes  and  hearts  of  men. 

To  banish  this  spirit  Masonry  is  doing  and  has  done  more,  so  far  as 
its  influence  is  felt,  than  all  other  causes  that  are  or  ever  have  been  in 
operation.  She  banishes  far  from  her  retreats  all  those  elements  of  dis- 
cord. Articles  of  faith  in  worldly  matters  or  christian  affairs  are  not 
permitted  to  have  any  influence  within  a  Lodge  of  Masons,  or  in  a  Ma- 
son's heart.  When  the  applicant  i>resents  himself  for  Masonic  member- 
ship, no  questions  are  asked  him  concerning  his  rehgious  or  political 
belief;  he  is  required  to  come  with  a  good  name,  being  esteemed  an 
honorable,  upright  man  ;  correct  in  his  dealings,  ever  doing  that  which 
is  right  and  avoiding  that  which  is  wrong ;  in  addition  to  this,  he  is  re- 
quired to  avow  an  unequivocal  belief  in  God.  These  are  the  requisites, 
and  after  the  candidate  has  been  initiated  to  the  mysteries  of  Masonry, 


21 

lie  is  told  that  nothing  of  a  partizan  or  sectarian  character  will  be  per- 
mitted in  the  Lodge,  for  there  men  of  every  shade  of  political  and  reli- 
gious belief  are  equal,  and  that  while  each  is  left  to  the  free  indulgence 
of  all  his  peculiar  views  concerning  matters  aside  from  Masonry,  he  is 
not  to  molest,  annoy  or  interfere  with  any  brother  who  may  differ  widely 
from  him.    The  Sons  of  Masonry  meet  in  friendship  and  part  in  love. 
Men  from  all  classes  here  meet  on  the  level^  act  by  the  plumb  and  part 
on  the  square.    Worldly  w^ealth  and  honor  are  no  stepping  stones  for 
Masonic  honor  ;  for  the  proud  nobleman,  aye,  the  King  from  his  throne, 
sits  side  by  side  with  the  humblest  artizan,  applying  to  him  the  endear- 
ing appellation  of  brother^  and  regards  him,  while  in  the  Lodge,  as  a  Ma- 
son fully  equal  to  himself.    All  the  hot  strifes  and  fierce  turmoils  of  the 
world  are  left  behind  when  the  brother  enters  the  sacred  retreat  of  Ma- 
sonry ;  and  he  is  there  assured  of  a  season  of  unalloyed  happiness  while 
mingling  in  the  society  of  kindred  spirits.    It  matters  not  how  widely 
brothers  may  differ  respecting  political,  religious,  or  sectarian  matters, 
when  they  meet  as  Masons  those  differences  are  forgotten,  their  conflict- 
ing views  are  laid  aside,  they  carefully  avoid  every  allusion  that  may 
tend  in  the  shghtest  degree  to  wound  a  brother's  feelings  or  to  excite  his 
displeasure.    Within  the  sacred  precincts  of  a  Lodge  of  Masons  is  pre- 
sented one  of  the  most  desirable  retreats  from  the  strifes,  the  conten- 
tions, the  cares  and  sorrows  of  the  world  that  can  be  found  on  earth. — 
The  charm  that  bindeth  kindred  spirits  in  an  eternal  compact  is  more 
fully  understood  among  Masons,  and  is  more  successfully  taught  in  their 
Lodges  than  among  any  other  class  of  men  who  are  governed  by  an 
institution  whose  principles  are  of  human  origin.    Its  power  sways  con- 
trol over  all  the  finer  feelings  of  the  heart ;  it  subdues  the  wayward  mind 
and  binds  in  mild  submission  the  wildest  passions  ;  it  charms  tlie  soul 
with  principles  and  teachings  so  pure  and  beautiful  and  holy  that  the 
rudest  mind  must  listen  with  delight  to  their  rehearsal.    Influences  are 
there  brought  to  bear  whose  benign  influence  must  be  felt  throughout 
the  vast  empires  of  eternity  ;  for  the  intelligent  Mason  receives  instruc- 
tion that  will  assist  him  in  bursting  asunder  the  bands  of  error  and  ena- 
ble him  to  rise  superior  to  the  galling  fetters  with  which  the  organic  im- 
becility of  frail  mortality  is  bound  by  nature.    Within  the  sacred  retreat 
of  a  Lodge  of  Masons  the  purest  principles  of  morality  are  inculcated. 
The  candidate  is  told  that  to  be  a  true  Mason  he  must  be  a  good  man ; 
that  if  he  would  rear  such  a  superstructure  upon  his  newly  laid  founda- 
tion as  will  be  a  shield,  a  protection  and  a  defence  to  him  in  after  years, 


22 

when  the  storms  of  adversity  and  misfortune  blow  around  him,  that  he 
must  use  a  pure  and  elevated  and  refining  morahty  for  his  cement.  That 
if  he  would  wish  to  have  a  green  island  in  the  dreary  desert  of  life  to 
which  he  could  ever  turn  aside  fi*om  the  sorrows  and  turmoils,  the  fre- 
quent strifes  and  disgusting  spenes  amid  which  he  is  called  to  act  his  part 
in  the  fearful  drama  of  the  world,  that  he  may  secure  it  by  cultivating 
the  purer  impulses  of  the  heart  while  in  a  Lodge  and  practicing  thera 
in  the  association  of  the  world.  When  the  Mason  gives  free  action  to 
the  most  generous  impulses  of  his  heart,  thereby  casting  many  a  beam 
of  sunshine  athwart  the  darksome  path  of  earth's  unnumbered  wretched, 
sorrowing  children,  he  is  himself  more  highly  blest  than  are  the  recipients 
of  his  kindness.  When  an  hour  of  quiet  thoughtfulness  comes  over  the 
soul,  when  the  tumult  of  the  w^ol'ld's  passions  are  lulled  to  rest  and  the 
heart  retires  within  itself  to  hold  sweet  communion  with  the  gentle  spi- 
rits of  the  past,  how  vividly  will  every  smile  of  gi-atitude  that  has  shone 
upon  us  from  the  orphan  and  the  widow  rise  up  from  beyond  the  cold 
and  intervening  hills  of  time  brightly  illuminating  the  leaflets  of  mem- 
ory, reanimating  the  heart  with  the  sweet  consolation  that  we  have  re- 
moved some  thorns  from,  and  strewed  some  flowers  in,  the  pathway  of 
suffering,  afflicted  humanity.  Should  you,  my  Brothers,  be  permitted  to 
continue  your  pilgrimage  on  earth  till  silvered  locks  and  furrowed  cheek 
and  tottering  step  and  trembling  hand  betoken  for  you  the  flight  of  many 
years,  even  then,  while  standing  in  a  musing  mood  upon  the  shore  of 
that  stream  which  runs  between  time  and  eternity,  vainly  endeavoring 
to  pierce  the  mists  that  ever  hang  above  those  waters  of  oblivion  and 
behold  the  reahties  of 

"  That  clime  which  keeps  the  disembodied  spirits  of  the  dead" 

how  full  of  consolation  to  you  will  be  the  thought,  while  standing  upon 
the  confines  of  time,  that  many  prayers  have  been  breathed  to  heaven  in 
your  behalf ;  prayers  that  have  broken  in  sweet,  harmonious  accents  ft'om 
the  lips  of  disconsolate  widowhood  and  friendless  orphanage  ;  bearing 
your  names  to  heaven  on  the  sweet  incense  that  rises  from  off"  the  spotless 
altar  of  woman's  heart.  Charity  is  the  brightest  jewel  in  the  Masonic 
casket,  and  it  w^ill  be  the  christian's  crown  of  glory  when  death,  hell  and 
the  grave  shall  have  been  overcome  and  the  joys  of  paradise  shall  have 
been  won.  Think  you  not  my  Brothers,  that  lives  of  active  charity  will 
enhance  the  bliss  of  the  better  land ;  that  the  soul  will  pulsate  w4th  a 
purer  joy  with  the  thought  that  many  of  the  suflerings  of  earth's  chil- 
dren were  relieved  by  you  ?    Under  the  gospel  dispensation  we  a|'e 


23 

taught  that  faith  without  good  wotlis  is  dead ;  so  in  Masonry,  the  spirit 
and  vitahty  consist  in  doing  good.    Do  not  deceive  yourselves,  however, 
with  the  idea  that  the  bestowal  of  alms  and  the  administering  of  conso- 
lation comprises  the  whole  of  your  duty,  for  "  though  I  bestow  all  my 
goods  to  feed  the  poor,  and  though  I  give  my  body  to  be  burned,  and 
have  not  charity,  I  am  i^othing."    The  Order  has  other  claims  upon  you. 
It  devolves  upon  you  to  practice  a  pure  and  refined  morality  ;  to  endea- 
vor to  give  tone  and  character  to  public  sentiment ;  to  promote  peace 
and  harmony  in  society ;  to  practice  in  its  purity  that  charity  which 
"  thinketh  no  ill  of  its  neighbor."    In  other  words,  the  great  mission  of 
M^onry  is  the  education  of  the  heart,    Man  may  be  learned  in  all  the 
wisdom  of  the  schools ;  he  may  have  drank  deeply  at  the  fountains  of 
learning ;  he  may  have  soared  on  the  strong  pinions  of  educated  intel- 
lect far  above  the  region  occupied  by  the  great  mass  of  mortality,  he  may 
be  enabled  to  reason  from  cause  to  effect,  and  by  the  gigantic  powers  of 
his  mind  be  well  nigh  able  to  give  a  solution  of  the  vast  problem  of 
creation  ;  and  yet,  if  the  education  of  the  heart  has  been  neglected  he 
will  be  a  curse,  a  scourge,  rather  than  a  blessing  to  mankind.    The  edu- 
ucation  of  the  intellect  merely,  makes  a  being  powerful ;  and  the  chances 
are  too  great,  that  such  power  will  be  exerted  for  evil.    The  temptations 
to  go  astray  are* many  and  strong,  the  allurements  of  vice  are  insidious 
and  powerful,  and  unless  the  heart  be  prepared  by  education  to  encoun- 
ter and  withstand  the  inducements  of  error,  the  individual  will  be  very 
likely  to  go  astray.    The  education  of  the  heart  prepares  the  individual 
for  usefulness  and  happiness.    It  matters  not  so  much  about  the  intel- 
lect, if  the  heart  be  right  its  possessor  will  be  wise  far  above  all  the  learn- 
ing of  the  schoolmen.    He  will  breathe  an  atmosphere  of  purity  and  his 
influence  for  good  will  be  felt  on  earth  and  recorded  in  heaven.  The 
two  branches  of  education  should  ever  be  joined,  but  if  either  must  be 
neglected,  let  it  be  the  intellect,  for  the  man  with  powers  of  beneficence 
but  lacking  the  heart  culture  necessary  to  their  exercise,  is  of  all  men, 
the  most  to  be  pitied  and  the  most  to  be  dreaded.    We  sometimes  hear 
that  the  conscience,  that  inward  monitor  sent  by  our  Maker  to  supervise 
our  actions,  is  a  safe,  a  sufficient  guide.    This  is  the  best  argument  that 
can  be  adduced  in  support  of  my  position.    If  the  conscience  be  ever  a 
safe  guide,  why  is  it  that  the  poor  deluded  mother  of  India  casts  her 
darling  children  into  the  jaws  of  the  horrid  monsters  of  the  Ganges  ? 
Why  is  it  that  the  Hindoo  widow  ascends  the  funeral  pile  and  is  con- 
sumed in  the  flames  with  the  body  of  her  dead  husband  ?    Simply  be- 


24 

cause  tlie  conscience,  the  hearty  is  not  educated  2)roperlyi  They  believe 
that  such  are  great  religious  duties ;  and  then*  conduct  demonstrates 
most  forcibly  the  power  of  the  conscience  when  educated,  ^Yhether  for 
good  or  for  evil. 

There  are  numerous  objections  urged  against  the  institution  of  Ma- 
sonry, nearly  all  of  which  I  have  endeavored  to,  answer  In  previous  ad- 
dresses. As  those  addresses  have  been  read  by  many  of  the  Masons  be- 
fore me,  I  will  not  attempt  to  answer  them  again.  There  is  one  objec- 
tion, however,  which  I  \\ill  dwell  upon  for  a  moment ;  it  is  that  of  hold- 
ing  Lodge  aieetings  at  night. 

The  busy  tumult  of  day,  its  press  of  business,  its  scenes  of  restless, 
never  dying  excitement,  are  poorly  calculated  to  prepare  the  heart  for  the 
softening,  subduing,  purifying  influences  of  Masonry.  In  the  gTeat  strife 
of  day-life  we  have  each  a  part  to  act,  for  Masons,  above  all  men,  are 
charged  to  be  industrious.  The  hundreds  of  industrial  avocations  which 
w^e  behold  on  every  hand,  mingle  their  accents  and  roll  their  merry  mur- 
mur upon  the  ear.  But  when  the  shades  of  evening  cover  the  world, 
^vhen  the  busy  scenes  of  our  existence  are  withdrawn,  when  the  departed 
sun  has  left  the  world  to  silence  and  the  soothing  influence  of  night,  there 
is  a  season  which  has  ever  been  a  favorite  one  with  the  wise  and  good 
of  all  nations.  There  is  shed  over  the  universal  face  of  nature,  at  this 
period,  a  calmness  and  tranquiUty,  a  peace  and  sanctity,  which  almost 
insensibly  steals  into  the  breast  of  man,  and  disposes  him  to  solitude  and 
meditation.  He  naturally  compares  the  dechne  of  light  and  animation 
with  that  which  attaches  to  the  lot  of  humanity  ;  and  the  evening  of  day, 
and  the  evening  of  life,  become  closely  assimilated  in  his  mind.  It  is  an 
association  from  which,  where  vice  and  guilt  have  not  hardened  the  heart, 
the  most  beneficial  results  may  be  experienced.  It  is  one  which,  while 
it  forcibly  suggests  to  us  the  transient  tenure  of  our  being  here,  teaches 
us,  at  the  same  time,  how  we  may  best  prepare  for  that  which  awaits 
us  hereafter.  The  sun  has  descended,  but  not  till  after  a  coui'se  of 
beneficence  and  utility,  of  dignity  and  glory,  while  all  around  him, 
as  he  sank,  there  breathed  a  diftusive  air  of  blessedness  and  repose. 
It  is  a  scene  which  directs  us  the  way  we  ought  to  go  ;  it  tells  us, 
that  after  having  passed  the  fervor  and  the  vigor  of  our  existence, 
the  morning  and  noon  of  our  a2'>pointed  pilgiimage,  thus  should  the 
evening  of  our  existence  set  in,  mild  yet  generous,  with  every 
earthly  ardour  softened  or  subdued,  and  with  the  loveliest  hues  of  heav- 
en just  mingling  in  its  farewell  light.    It  is  a  scene,  moreover,  which 


25 

almost  instinctively  reminds  us  of  another  world  ;  the  one  we  are  inhabit- 
ing has  receded  from  our  view ;  the  shades  of  night  have  gathered  round  our 
heads  ;  we  experience  a^  sensation  of  thoughtful  loneliness  and  our  minds 
naturally  travel  away  from  earth  to  regions  of  unending  happiness  and 
splendor,  where,  in  mental  vision,  we  behold  mansions  of  e^'erlasting 
peace,  homes  of  ever-during  delight.  Oiir  thoughts  a*re  carried  forward 
to  a  Being  infinitely  great  and  good,  the  Father  of  us  all,  who,  distant 
though  h^  seem  to  be,  and  imigeasurably  beyond  the  power  of  our  facul- 
ties to  comprehend,  is  yet  about  our  path,  earing  for  us  all ;  who  has 
prepared  for  those  who  love  him,  scenes  of  unutterable  joy  ^  scenes,  when 
compared  with  which,  the  brightness  of  the  sun  shall  be  but  as  the  glim- 
mering of  a  distant  star.  How  appropriate  it  is,  then,  for  Masons  to 
meet  at  such  an  hour,  when  worldly  scenes  together  with  the  ennobhng 
teachings  of  Masonry,  combine  to  make  him  a  better  man.  Every  hour 
properly  spent  in  a  Masonic  Lodge,  with  such  thoughts  and  contempla- 
tions as  these  will  be  felt  in  eternity. 

Brothers,  the  responsibilities  of  life  are  great,  and  they  increase  in  pro- 
portion to  the  opportunities  we  have  presented  to  us  for  acting  well  our 
parts.  You  can  plead  no  want  of  knowledge,  of  abihty,  or  of  opportu- 
nity, and  as  the  good  deeds  of  Masonry  may  now  be  seen  like  lines  of 
light  from  one  vast  circumference,  converging  to  one  common  centre, 
may  not  the  friends  of  humanity  hope  to  see  this  circumference  enlarged 
through  your  efforts  ?  May  we  not  glance  with  prophetic  eye  towards 
the  converging  point  of  these  mighty  efforts  and  behold,  as  their  result, 
universal  man  disenthralled  from  the  bands  of  bigotry,  superstition  and 
error  ?v  May  we  not  hope  to  see  human  nature,  through  the  instrumen- 
tahty  of  Masonry,  arising  from  the  miserable  pools  of  sophistry  and  re- 
fusing to  soil  her  beautiful  garments  in  the  filth  of  human  passion  ?  May 
we  not  hope  to  see  her  breathing  a  spirit  so  pure  and  beneficent  as  to  fling 
back  upon  their  sources  the  gilded  dregs  and  jeweled  chalices  of  moral 
death  ?  May  we  not  see  the  Mght  of  truth  beaming  so  intensely  and 
powerfully  as  to  frighten  from  their  gloomy  dens  and  caverns  the  mis- 
erable screechowls  of  superstition,  ignorance  and  error,  and  human  na- 
ture, renovated,  exalted  and  refined,  manifesting  new  and  greater  develop- 
ments of  mental  and  moral  greatness. 

Note. — For  facts  relating  to  the  lives  of  our  Patron  Saints  and  their  connection  % 
with  Masonry,  the  reader  is  referred  to  the  writings  of  St.  Basil,  Eusebius,  and'' 
Bpiphanius also  to  Ahi  Rez,  Scrip.  IHus.  and  the  Lives  of  the  Apostles. 


